The Age of GalileoAstronomical & Historical Bytes

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Chapter Five- I -
Dangerous Concept, Dangerous Times - Galileo, Kepler and the Church - The Drawn Line

"Let me not seem to have lived in vain" - Tycho's Last Words to Kepler

Galileo had drawn a line of sorts, and seemed more than willing, in the end, to take a stance to defend it. And defend it he should for his discoveries, controversies aside, were absolute, many incontrovertible fact. But it was a very light line, erased more than once and redrawn, to be crossed almost capriciously, especially during the years 1619-1633 when confonting the church. This is evidenced in many texts of the period and even in Galileo's own writings. Be that it as it may, this is certainly no distraction from his great achievements; during this era many famous personages were not always as they had spoken or wished themselves to be, fluctuating in and out of the ideas, beliefs and enforcement of canon or church laws; cartering to their own desires, ideals or to the powers that be, whether they truly believed in their benefactors ideas or not.

On the other side of that same coin was the Church, and they too had drawn a line; one that was very apparent, one that was discernable to all, having been pointed to with extreme clarity to the one person they left in no doubt as to it's existence - K. Pinkela The Age of Galileo, 2009

We are always in the age-long, paradoxical battle of writing objective histories, hoping that the subjective does not creep into the things written, and in all fairness, many have accomplished this successfully to one degree or another. But I was surprised to find that, after reading mountains of historical works, the line between Galileo and the Church is still very much present, even four hundred plus years after the fact. No matter; in presenting the historically viewed character of Galileo, I shall endeavour to write what is factually known, the written "words" as set to paper by the Church, Galileo, his contemporaries and modern writers from all disciplines in order to see if we cannot find the very character of the great man himself.

◊II◊ Finding the Character of Galileo

In his diary Kepler wrote,

"I confess that when Tycho died, I quickly took advantage of the absence, or lack of circumspection, of the heirs, by taking the observations under my care, or perhaps usurping them." [ ref.1 ]

An attack of conscience perhaps? If it was to be at least Tycho's work ended up in the right hands and the rest is history, as they say. Of course, this would seem to indicate that Kepler was cut of a somewhat different cloth than most. As for Galileo? Writes Robert A. Sungenis, M.A., Ph.D.,

"...whereas Kepler was more reserved, the unconverted Galileo was the quintessential know-it-all, always and everywhere trying to outshine everyone who crossed his path. As Koestler puts it: "Galileo had a rare gift of provoking enmity; not the affection alternating with rage which Tycho aroused, but the cold, unrelenting hostility which genius plus arrogance minus humility creates among mediocrities" (The Sleepwalkers, p. 373)." [ ref.2 ]Dr. Sungenis continues,

"Among his other braggadocios, Galileo claimed to have invented the telescope, but Kepler and his colleagues knew it was available twenty years earlier from one of Galileo's countrymen, Giovanni Della Porta. Records also show that spectacle-maker Johann Lippershey possessed a license to make telescopes by the mid-1580s." [ Ibid ]Still further he writes,

"To one of his other rivals Galileo stated: "You cannot help it, Mr. Sarsi, that it was granted to me alone to discover all the new phenomena in the sky and nothing to anybody else. This is the truth which neither malice nor envy can suppress" (Taken from Galileo's 1623 book titled Il Saggiatore (The Assayer). The book starts with a tirade against all who tried to rob Galileo "of the glory of his discoveries.". His self-appointed monopoly on the sky is probably why Galileo also claimed to be the first to discover sunspots, but it was well known that the Jesuits Johannes Farricius and Fr. Scheiner and his assistant Cysat had found the spots earlier, both of whom had published their findings." [Ibid]

Galileo's claim of inventing the telescope is based on the fact that he not only wished to do so but did produce an example, many in fact. From Padua he wrote,

"About 10 month's ago a report reached my ears that a certain Fleming had constructed a spyglass by means of which visible objects, though very distant from the eye of the observer, were distinctly seen as if nearby...[this] caused me to apply myself wholeheartedly to investigate means by which I might arrive at the invention of a similar instrument." [ ref.3 ]

Thereafter, Galileo set out and built a telescope, not the first, but certainly one of "his" own invention. Taking these two historical writings, one can easily place either out of historical context and thereby, out of historical fact, showing that either Galileo was indeed attemptng to "outshine everyone" or, on the other hand, felt it an injustice at not having been given his rightful cudo's for his own invention's creativity and obvious success, perhaps.

I think the truth is easier to discern; there is no doubting that he invented a telescopic device of his own making--one should also remember that he did not have a working model in hand--that he did point his invention towards the sky and thereafter, wrote of his many discoveries. It is this which he rightly laid claim to having done, emphatically perhaps and with a hint of the arrogance that was Galileo the Florentine; outgoing, ambitious, fiery, and impatient of opposition. There is, however, little doubt that Galileo made some rather remarkable discoveries with his telescope. As Dr. Noel M. Swerdlow notes,

"In about two months, December and January [1610], he made more discoveries that changed the world than anyone has before or since." [ ref.4 ] & [ ref.5 ]

With hardly any difficulty, as to whether Galileo is claiming the telescope invention all to himself, lock, stock and barrel or rather, claiming the one he invented, the evidence can be taken to support either view. What is undeniable is the fact that he did create or invent a telescope of his own and then recorded some remarkable sights and observations, all of which were evidenced and set down in writing by his hand as well as others; the Dutch mathematician-astronomer Christian Huygens discovered a satellite of Saturn and clarified Galileo's earlier observation of the peculiar configuration of that planet by announcing the presence of its surrounding ring.

It has also been said that Galileo's telescope was so small and clumsy it would have been hard to see Jupiter itself, let alone its moons (his telescopes never reached a magnification power higher than x33). Yet again, it is a fact that Galileo himself wrote of his discovery of the four major moons of Jupiter in The Sideral Messenger in April 1610. In fact, the news of this soon reached Kepler in Germany, who was an instant and enthusiastic supporter of Galileo's findings (unlike many others, especially since several people who had tried to verify Galileo's findings had been unable to see the new moons).

To all this must be added another fact, Galileo was beginning to make errors critical to his theories and these have led to many of the arguments challenging the validity of his discoveries. This may have been due, in part, to a health issue that has recently been brought to light once again. Italian scientists are trying to get Galileo's DNA in order to figure out how the astronomer forged groundbreaking theories on the universe while gradually becoming blind,

"The Italian astronomer -- who built on the work of predecessor Nicolaus Copernicus to develop modern astronomy with the sun as the centre of the universe -- had a degenerative eye disease that eventually left him blind." [ ref.6 ]

So, did Galileo really see what he claimed? Did someone else see the moons before he? Could his telescope have really been powerful enough to view them in the first place? Put into context, the issue of Galileo's sight is central to these questions and another pro or con item for the writer, seeking to set the record stright, to watch and see what may pass. For us, there is more and most of that will come from Galileo himself, in his own words, from his own writings between 1600-1612. However, before we delve further, let us now look at "the other side of the coin" and to the major institution central to this writing - the Church.

◊III◊ The Church

Historically, much had happenend by the year 1610 and a good deal of that had seen the involvement of the ever present eye of moral and, in many respects, legal authority - the Church.

It's base of power rested in Italy and at it's apex sat the Pope, who's seat of power was, and still is, the Vatican. Yet, by 1600 the power of the Church has started to wane as the countries of Europe began to, or already had, recognized their own national identities, giving loyalty to their own choosen, inherited or self-appointed heads of state. Still, religion remained a powerful motivator and tool; one did not go against it's authority lightly, Giordano Bruno and the inquistions giving their own testimony to that fact. Yet, this was of small consolation in the light of events spanning the one hundred years that began with the 16th century. [ ref.7 ]

◊IV◊ Retaining Power in the 16th & 17th Century

By the 16th century, indeed, earlier than this, the church felt it's power slowly draining away.

The idea of crusading was, by the 14th century, an antiquated and all but dead papal idea as nations began to look inward. Earlier in the 16th century, a rising voice throughout Christendom felt very strongly that the Catholic Church had become corrupt. Yet, what really began the spectacular, and symbolical challenge to church authority occured in October of 1517, when Martin Luther, a German theolgian fed up with the wealth and corruption of the papacy tacked his 95 theses on the door of the All Saints Church in Wittenberg.

&quotNot for centuries had there been any defiance so far-reaching--and with the encouragement and protection of the state" [ ref.8 ]

This was an act of defiance that alone sent a shudder throughout Christendom and would eventually lead to a split in the church, the birth of the Protestant church and to a lengthy and devastating war.

Then there was Henry VIII who simply made himself "Supreme Head of the Church in England", dissolved the Catholic monasteries, confiscated their property and distributed it to English gentry in return for their support, declaring a new church of England which worked based on a "top-down" system. When later, on February 25, 1570 Pope Pius V excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I of England because of her persecution of Roman Catholics in England, the excommunication hardly made an impression, eventually failing in it's intended results. How ineffectual a tool it had become was shown when Elizabeth, a determined Protestant, defeated the Spanish Armada and sent it packing. This was the last time any pope dared to rendered such judgment against a reigning monarch. [ ref.9 ]

Meanwhile, Pope Clement VIII was forced to the reconciliation with Henry IV of France, despite the Edict of Nantes (1598) which had recognized the right of French Protestants, due to Spains perceived attempts at controlling the Pope. And later, when James I became King of England and Scotland, he effectively repressed the efforts of Catholics and Puritans to reform the Church of England, the results of which made the throne of England more powerful than the Pope. Lastly, the age of colonialism had dawned yet it did not require, as the crusades had, any help from the Pope in order to spread throughout the world or enjoy success. By the late 17th and early 18th centuries the church truly found itself in chains, no longer the power house it has once been or aspired to.

◊V◊ At the heart of the Matter
In an audience before the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on 31 October 1992 John Paul II officially closed the work of the commission ( a gathering to remedy the Galileo controversy ), after having received in that same audience a report from Cardinal Paul Poupard on the work of the commission, with the words:

"From the Galileo case we can draw a lesson which is applicable today in analogous cases which arise in our times and which may arise in the future. ... It often happens that, beyond two partial points of view which are in contrast, there exists a wider view of things which embraces both and integrates them." [ ref.10 ]

What was at the heart of the dispute between the Church and Galileo, the battle that esstential came down to a conflict between reason and dogma, science and faith?

"In 1616, the Copernican view was declared heretical because it refuted a strict biblical interpreation of the Creation that "God fixed the Earth upon its foundation, not to be moved forever." But Galileo obtained the permission of Pope Urban VIII, a Barberini and a friend, to continue research into both the Ptolemaic and the Copernican views of the world, provided that his findings drew no definitive conclusions and acknowledged divine omnipotence." [ ref.11 ]

The contest between the two divergent theories began with the publication in 1543 by the Polish scientist Nicolaus Copernicus of his theory regarding a heliocentric solar system. However, the contest remained on theoretic and theological grounds until Galileo made the first observations of the four largest moons of Jupiter, their very discovery dicounting the Ptolemaic notion that all heavenly bodies must orbit the Earth.

"And in brief, if it is impossible for a conclusion to be declared heretical while we remain in doubt as to its truth, then these men are wasting their time clamoring for condemnation of the motion of the earth and stability of the sun, which they have not yet demonstrated to be impossible or false..."  from Galileo's Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany, 1615 [ ref.12 ]

As previously mentioned, the Copernican view was declared heretical yet, Galileo obtained the permission of Pope Urban VIII to continue his research into both the Ptolemaic and the Copernican views of the world, provided he, Galileo abide by the following:

First, that his findings "drew no definitive conclusions" and secondly that his work "acknowledged divine omnipotence".

Here was the line, clearly shown to him by Pope and friend, however, Galileo would succeed outstandingly, in the first instance, of doing just the opposite and the church would, in it's turn, succeed greatly into forcing Galileo to do the second. Over the next sixteen years, stubborn arrogance would first abrasively clash, then finally threaten the dogmatic doctrines of both the powers that be--and those powers were in no mood to see any further erosion of their empire--and his own supporters. In the end, both would stand for the "right" of their cause yet seemingly for the wrong reasons.

NEXT PAGEChapter Five, Section II
Galileo, Kepler and the Church: Sixteen Years to Indictment - Closing in on the man Galileo.

Reference Sources of Interest James A. Connor Kepler's Witch: An Astronomer's Discovery of Cosmic Order Amid Religious War, Political Intrigue, and the Heresy Trial of His Mother

fn.1 No doubt that my own views will form a part of this writing. That aside, I have found repeated, amonst many writers both for and against, certain character traits of Galileo: he was very contemptuous of many whether they deserved it or not--his dispute with Jesuit mathematician-astronomer Horatio Grassi over comets; he certainly had a penchant for alienation--his friend and benefactor Pope Urban VIII his greatest feat (or self-defeat perhaps) in this respect; vanity--obvious in many of his own writings; his caustic tongue and acid pen made him many a life-long enemy and even converted supportive colleagues into vindictive foes--his battle with Christopher Scheiner over who discovered sunspots, pointless in light of the earlier writings & dicovery by Johann Fabricius of Wittenberg; a stubborn adherence to theories that even his own principles of dynamics proved wrong, as when rejecting Kepler's correct notion that the moon causes the alternation of the tides. Galileo claimed they were due to the earth's motion, a case of pride & vanity perhaps. It is, however, a trait left to last that has probably been the root cause of much damage, as any other, to the character of Galileo: the accusations of hypocrisy. Galileo, for fear of being ridiculed, kept his convictions (he embraced the heliocentric system in his twenties) to himself until he was nearly fifty. During the interim, he defended the geocentric model of Ptolemy in his lectures, repudiating the earth's motion by means of the traditional arguments. All these will be discussed in Chapter Five, Section Two of this writing. [ ref.* ]
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Pope Clement VIII, the 232th Roman Catholic Pope ( January 30, 1592 - March 5, 1605 ), was born Ippolito Aldobrandini. He is best known for his reconciliation with Henry IV of France when Clement recognized the latter as King of France in 1595 - despite the Edict of Nantes (1598) which had recognized the right of French Protestants (Hugenots) freedom of conscience and worship. He used the Inquisition to condemn and execute controversial philosopher Giordano Bruno. [ source ]

Galileo was to alienate another person  more important than any of the others  that was to seal his doom. This was Pope Urban VIII. Before ascending to the papal throne, Maffeo Barberini had been Galileo's most ardent admirer. He had written an ode in honor of Galileo and, as Pope, gave him a testimonial extolling the virtues "of this great man, whose fame shines in the heavens and goes on earth far and wide." The year after he became Pope, he showered Galileo with gifts and favors. [ Source ]

Replica of a clock designed by Galileo

Galileo is said to have discovered that pendulums keep remarkably good time while watching lamps swing in the Pisa cathedral as a young medical student. He noticed that the period of a pendulum (the time of one swing) remained almost exactly the same, even as the lamp lost energy and the size of the swing became smaller. [ source ]

Galileo and his telescope, c. 1609

Galileo brings the Italian senators to the tower of Basilica of Saint Mark's, his purpose not yet revealed. They tirelessly climb the many white-gray steps to the round roof. Out of one of the square windows, the senators look through Galileo's improved telescope. Ships arriving in Italy's harbor two hours later are seen clearer than ever. The faces of Florence residents are seen smiling, frowning, and picking their nose. Galileo knows by the senators' amazed expressions that he has just done something incredible. And he had. He really had. [ source ]

Ruins of Glastonbury Abbey

Glastonbury Abbey, founded in the seventh century, was a rich and powerful monastery in Glastonbury, Somerset England. It became associated with the legends of the Holy Grail and King Arthur in the tenth century. The abbey suffered the lost of all valuables under Henry VIII

The trial of Giordano Bruno by the Roman Inquisition.

Giordano Bruno, born Filippo Bruno (1548  February 17, 1600), was an Italian philosopher best-known as a proponent of heliocentrism and the infinity of the universe. He was burned at the stake as a heretic by the Roman Inquisition on February 17, 1600. source

GALILEO'S WORLDImagine looking down at Florence

In the seventeenth century Florence and Tuscany increasingly faded into obscurity and did not revive until the nineteenth century. It is today a major cultural center and attracts millions of tourists each year. [ source ]

University of Padua

Galileo held the chair of mathematics at the University of Padua at the beginning of the 17th century. It was during that tenure that he did much of the work on his theories of motion. It was also while there that Galileo refined the telescope and first directed it to the heavens.

This is a view of the cathedral in Pisa.

It was here that Galileo first noticed the motion of the swinging lamp which hung from the ceiling of the church. No matter the size of the swing, the amount of time it took to complete was always the same. This observation led Galileo to apply the same principle to the construction of an astronomical clock some fifty years later.

Galileo entombed on the inner wall of the church of Santa Croce

Thanks to Medici's influence, Galileo served his life-imprisonment sentence in his own house in Florence. He continued his scientific research there. When he was 74 years old, Galileo wrote a book about the time dependence of motion which led to the concept of constant acceleration. Galileo died in 1643 when he was 78 years old.

Vatican City 17th Century

The Barberini Family in Rome

The Barberini was the most important family in Rome during the Baroque period. Members of this family attained positions of great authority within the Catholic Church and became great patrons of the arts. Their support was critical to the development of the Baroque style in Rome. [ source ]

The Piazza San Pietro

St Peter's Square, in the Vatican City State. The square is enclosed by Gianlorenzo Bernini's 17th-century elliptical colonnade. St Peter's Basilica, the cathedral itself, is the main Roman Catholic church in this clerical state, and took more than a century to build. [ source ]